kitchen refurb

There are many options for a kitchen remodel, most of which are costly, and often overwhelming. I recently discovered several bespoke kitchen companies (several from across the pond in the UK) that are modern, sleek, and somewhat formulaic. In my case that's a good thing because I find myself unable to make a decision when there are too many decisions. While I love a quality Poggenpohl kitchen by our favorite local architect, Michael Cook, AIA, I am exploring more affordable options for our kitchen refurb (hopefully coming Fall 2022). The below kitchen is very much in line with the look we are going for and includes cabinetry and appliances by Wren Kitchens.

I can't imagine building a house from scratch without knowing exactly what is needed for a personal kitchen. After living in our home for almost a year, we have a very good idea of what we need for organization and storage and what kind of appliances we prefer, which will inform the next steps. After months of research and many YouTube videos, two companies stand out to us, both which provide cabinets, hardware, appliances, design services and more modern designs. I highly recommend using the design services if you do not have an architecture or designer on your build.

Wren Kitchens

Wren Kitchens is by far my favorite model for the overall kitchen refurb, probably because I was inspired by Jess Rose' gorgeous kitchen in London. While the company is based in the UK, they recently opened showrooms in Connecticut and New York and are starting to do installations in the US. I am still exploring if this would be an option for us since their website indicates we are outside of their shipping locations.

Wren provides a packaged deal within the 10K - 25K range, depending on the size of your kitchen, number of cabinets, customized design, and new appliances. The website is fun and interactive with a 3D design platform for customizing your own kitchen and choosing colors, backsplash, counters, and hardware. They offer styles in Modern, Shaker, and Traditional with three pricing tiers (Flat Pack, Infinity or Infinity Plus). Below are several digital renderings of Wren Kitchens I love that have a similar layout as ours...

Form Kitchens

Form Kitchens is based in the US and has showrooms in New York City and Los Angeles. The design is generally sleek, modern, and minimalist. Based on the size of our kitchen and estimated cabinets, Form's site says our build would be 15K or under. I have an appointment with a design consultant next week to learn more. My only concern with Form is that their gallery of photos seem to lack character. Wren's Kitchens feel more unique with interesting colors and unique layouts.

Digital renderings of Form Kitchens I like/love...

Other Options

I explored the Australian-based cabinet company, Kaboodle Kitchens, but this requires significant DIY skills or a contractor who is willing to do all measuring and build the cabinets, which come in an Ikea-like state. I also looked into the highly-rated UK-based Neptune Kitchens. While beautiful, they specialize in more traditional designs with a country feel, which does not fit our aesthetic.